Cam control means for knitting machines



Jan. 24, 1967 G. H. NOLL CAM CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed Jan. 7, 1964 INVENTOR.

GEORGE H, NOLL.

A TTORNE Y Jan. 24, 1967 G. H. NOLL 3,299,673

CAM CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE H NOLL A 'I'TORNEY Jan. 24, 1967 G. H. NOLL 3,299,673

CAM CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

GEORGE H NOLL.

Wm QM A 'I'TORNE Y Jan. 24, 1967 G. H. NOLL 3,299,673

. CAM CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. '7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 WUQQH United States Patent 3,299,673 CAM CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES George H. Noll, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Wildman Jacquard (30., Norristown, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 336,215 3 Claims. (Cl. 66-57) This invention pertains to independent needle knitting machines and, more particularly, to improvements in the cam control mechanism of such machines.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a gate cam control unit for selectively guiding the butts of the knitting instrumentalities from one cam track or channel to another according to the knitting requirements.

It is a further object of the invention to accomplish the above results by providing a gate cam control unit that is adapted to perform its intended function in a much smaller area on a knitting machine than has been heretofore possible with gate cam control mechanisms of the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate cam control which provides a more positive means of maintaining the gate cams in their proper operating positions.

A further object is that of providing a gate cam control device in which a section thereof may be removed to expose the knitting instrumentalities, thereby making said instrumentalities accessible in the event they need replacing without removing the entire gate cam assembly.

It is a still further object of the invention to accomplish the results set forth herein with a unitary and compact gate cam control unit which is readily adapted for use as a component part of new machines or which may serveas an attachment for used machines with a minimum of alteration of the basic parts of said used machines.

A further object is to provide gate cam control units which are individually controllable to permit said units to be reset mechanically in the event of a flaw or defect in the article being knitted.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

Independent needle knitting machines of the circular type utilize various forms of knitting instrumentalities such as needles, sliders, sinkers, jacks, etc. These instrumentalities are provided with butts which are caused to travel in selected pathways or cam channels according to the knitting requirements as is well known to those familiar with the art.

The gate cam control unit of the instant invention is particularly adapted for use with a link type knitting machine or, in other words, a knitting machine of the double cylinder type. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to such machines, but is equally ICC other and is adapted to assemble and function in about one-half the amount of space required for gate cam mechanisms of the prior art.

Each gate cam unit is individually controllable which permits them to be reset mechanically by means of the control card and control stand. By this, it is meant that should a flaw or defect be detected in an article of knit goods being formed, rather than complete the defective article, the knitting machine can be stopped and the cause of the defect corrected. The control card is then turned back to its starting point and upon resuming operation all the gate cam units will automatically assume the proper position to start knitting a new article of goods.

Prior to the instant invention it was necessary to reset these cams manually.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to specific embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view in side elevation of the mechanism according to the invention showing its relation to the upper needle cylinder;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the gate cams locked in one of their two possible positions;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the gate cam unit showing a portion of the control arm cam responsible for actuation of the gate cams;

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation of the gate cam unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing one of the three separable gate cam units utilized on a v knitting machine to provide access to the knitting instruapplicable to other types of knitting machines in which the butts of the knitting instrumentalities are at times and for a part of the cycle guided in one pathway and then, according to the dictates of the knitting requirements, are caused to pass to another pathway.

The pathways or channels formed by the various cam members are separated by what is termed a dividing cam. Gate or switch cams are positioned to function in close proximity with the dividing cam and the selective positioning of said gate cams causes the butts of the knitting instrumentalities to pass to either one side or the other of the dividing cam, thereby guiding said butts into the proper pathway to carry out their intended function.

The mechanism according to the instant invention provides a novel gate cam unit for guiding the butts of the knitting instrumentalities from one cam channel to an- 7 mentalities;

FIG. 6 is a view in front elevation and partially in section of the gate cam unit shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6A is a section taken at line 6a-6a, FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a developed view of the various cam members that form the pathways in which the butts of the knitting instrumentalities in the upper cylinder are guided and the gate cams according to the invention forming a part the-reof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing the pathways by which the knitting instrumentalities of the lower cylinder are guided;

FIG. 9 is a view showing that portion of FIG. 7 which includes the gate cams and showing the same in the selected position for guiding the butts of the knitting instrumentalities into the knit and transfer cam pathway; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 but showing the gate cams in that position which permits the butts to be guided into the welt cam pathway.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is believed that a sufiicient portion of a knitting machine has been shown to serve as a basis for a detailed description of the invention as applied thereto. While it is equally practical to apply the invention to a rotary needle cylinder machine, the instant disclosure applies more expressly to a rotary carn cylinder machine of the links type. Particular reference is made to gate cams for guiding sliders in the upper cylinder, but the principle of the invention applies to all forms of knitting instrumentalities slidably controlled in circular instrument beds by means of butts forming an integral part thereof.

The invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being applied to a knitting machine having an upper cylinder 20, a plurality of insert blades 21 (one only shown in FIG. 2) assembled in equally spaced grooves disposed about the entire outer periphery of said cylinder 20. These insert blades form sidewalls to channels within which sliders 22 are guided for vertical movement in a manner well known to those conversant in the art. Each slider 22 is provided with an outwardly directed and integrally formed butt member 23'which also ina known manneris caused to 3 travel incam channels or pathways according to the dietates of the knitting requirements.

The gate cam control unit forming theinvention is generally indicated by numeral 24. p This unit attaches to and forms a part of the upper section ring 25, only a small portion of which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The upper section ring 25 is sometimes referred to as the cam cylinder' and is adapted to encircle the upper cylinder 20. It comprises a plurality of unit segments the inner surfaces of which are provided with cam members which affect the sliders 22 through their butts 23 to cause them to travel in predetermined pathways for carrying out their intended function in the art of knitting. The pathways formed by the cams are separated by a so-called dividing cam 26 (FIG. 7) and as will be more fully described hereinafter, the gate cam unit generally indicated by numeral 24 is adapted to cooperate with said dividing cam for guiding the butts of the sliders to either one side or the other thereof.

Each of the unit segments includes the plurality of cam members shown in FIG. 7 which commence with upper and lower guard cams 27 and 28 and terminate with an upper welt guide cam 29 and a upper stitch cam 30. The stitch cam 30 illustrated on the far right in FIG. 7 and the portion of the upper guard cam 27 at the far left are cams forming a part of adjacent unit segments and are shown to illustrate the relationship of the various segments forming the upper section ring.

Gate cam units assemble to each of the unit segments and include a mounting base 31 which serves to enclose several parts and to support for sliding and pivoting movement as the case may be, the various elements associated therewith.

An upper gate cam 32 is attached to the inner end of a plunger member 33 by means of a screw 34 and is selectively movable radially with respect to the cylinder in a horizontal plane to position said cam 32 in either butt engaging position or an inactive position. The plunger member 33 is generally circular in shape and is provided with a necked portion 35 of lesser diameter on that end to which the upper gate cam 32- is adapted to attach. This plunger member is slidably received into a horizontally disposed hole 36 provided in the mounting base 31 and the innermost portion thereof is of a lesser diameter to accommodate the necked portion 35 of said plunger which is adapted to extend therethrough. A coil spring 37 assembles on the neck portion 35 within the mounting base 31 and serves to continually urge the upper gate cam 32 to an inactive position. Adjacent the outer end of the plunger member 33 there is provided a vertically disposed push pin 38 which assembles in an appropriate vertically extending aperture in member 33 and is fixedly positioned therein by means of a pin 39. The gate cam units being mounted in the various unit segments forming the upper section ring are caused to revolve with said ring around the upper cylinder in the direction of the indicating arrow depicted in FIG. 3. A control arm cam 40 extending from the control stand box (not shown) is selectively movable in a known manner from the solid line position to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3.

When the control arm cam is caused to assume this dotted line position, it is then in the path of the revolving push pin 38 causing it to be pushed inwardly to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3, thereby placing the upper gate cam 32 in the butt controlling position depicted in FIG. 2. The upper gate cam is maintained in this position by means of a spring biased catch pawl indicated generally by numeral 41 which assembles in a generally centralized slot 42 directly above the plunger member 33 and at the upper and outer portion of the mounting base 31.

This catch pawl is in the form of a double armed lever pivotable intermediate its ends about a pin 43. A first arm 44 of the catch pawl is directed inwardly and down- Wardly terminating in a chisel-type tip which is adapted to be received into a conforming V groove provided on the upper surface of the plunger member 33 when the latter is pushed inwardly to that position shown in FIG. 2. A coil spring 45 assembles in slot 42 in a manner which places one end thereof in contact with the upper portion of the first arm 44 and the opposite end seats in a pocket provided on the underside of the top plate 46 which is attached to the mounting base 31 by means of a screw 47. This spring 45 is continually urging the lower tip of the catch pawl into contact with the plunger member 33 and is effective in maintaining said plunger member in the selected position heretofore described.

A second arm 48 of the catch paw-l extends outwardly from the slot 42 in a generally horizontal plane and when in that position shown in FIG. 2, it is adapted to be acted upon by a control arm cam (not shown) to pivot said catch pawl to the position shown in FIG. 1. The tilting of the catch pawl in this manner causes the lower tip of the pawl to be pulled out of the V groove in the plunger member 33 and permits the latter member to return to its initial position by the expansion of coil spring 37.

A second gate cam 49 cooperates with and is caused to move simultaneously with the first gate cam 32 when the latter is caused to move from one position to another. The elements involved to effect simultaneous movement of the second gate cam include a plunger cam 50 assembled for horizontal sliding movement below and in vertical alignment with the plunger member 33. The outer end of the plunger cam 50 extends outwardly beyond the outer surface of the mounting base 31 and is in contact with the lower inner surface of the push pin 38. The opposite end of this plunger cam is provided with a downward and outwardly directed slabbed portion defining a camming surface 51 which is in sliding contact with a conforming camming surface 52 provided on the upper portion of a vertically disposed gate cam post 53. The gate cam post 53 is vertically slidable in a formed channel 54 (FIG. 1) disposed at the lower and inner side of the mounting base 31. The second gate cam 49 is fixedly attached to the upper and inner side of the gate cam post 53 by means of a screw 55 and is movable in a vertical direction with said post. Gate cam post 53 is also spring biased in an upward direction by means of a coil spring 56. This spring is housed in a channel 57 of lesser diameter than channel 54, but it is contiguous with and opens into the latter channel. A'pin member 58 provided in the gate cam post 53 just below its camming surface 52 extends into channel 57 and serves as an upper retaining means for the coil spring 56. The lower end of spring 56 bears against the upper surface of the bottom plate 59 which is attached to the bottom of the mounting base 31 thereby providing a means for continually urging the gate cam post 53 and the second gate cam 49 attached thereto to their uppermost positions.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a very similar gate cam control unit which is adapted to function in the same manner as the type heretofore described and is assembled to only certain unit segments which make up the upper section ring 25. The principal difference is that a portion of the mounting base may be removed without disturbing other parts associated therewith. It has been desirable to have at least three such units assembled at strategic points on the upper section ring, thereby providing a means of accessibility to the knitting instrumentalities in the event they need replacing. These units include upper and lower mounting bases 60 and 61, respectively, and are attached one to the other by means of a bolt 62. To prevent the plunger cam 50 from being forced out of the lower mounting base 61, on the removal thereof, by the spring biased gate cam post 53 moving upwardly, a retaining means is utilized to prevent the outward sliding of said plunger cam. This retaining means includes a coil spring 63 and la plunger pin generally indicated by numeral 64 having a neck portion 65 of :a smaller diameter than the main body portion indicated by numeral 66. Spring 63 and the plunger pin 64 are housed in a vertically disposed guide hole 67 adjacent the outer side of the lower mounting base 61. When both mounting bases are firmly attached-one to the other, the coil spring is compressed by the plunger pin 64 causing the neck portion 65 thereof to bear against the underside of the upper mounting base 60. In vertical alignment with the plunger pin 64, the plunger cam is provided with a recess 68 on the side thereof. Theneck portion 65 of the plunger pin is immediately adjacent to this recess 68 but is sufficiently small in diameter as to cause no interference with the horizontal movement of the plunger cam 50. When loosening bolt 62 to remove the lower mounting base 61, the coil spring 63 commences to expand and pushes the plunger pin 64 upwardly to a point which places the body portion 66 of said pin into the recess 68 thereby preventing the plunger cam 50 from sliding out of the lower mounting base 61.

In operation, the control arm cam 40 is selectively projected into the path of the push pin 38 pushing it inwardly to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3. This movement of the pin 38 slides-the plunger member 33 inwardly to position the gate cam 32 affixed thereto in the butt controlling position shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 9 illustrates how the butts of the sliders are guided into the knit cam and transfer channel by this movement. During this movement plunger cam 50 being in contact with the lower portion of the push pin is caused to be pushed inwardly and its inner cam surface 51 is caused to act upon cam surface 52 of the gate cam post 53 pushing the same downwardly, thereby placing the second gate cam 49 in a lower and inactive position. These cam positions are maintained by means of the spring biased catch pawl 41 pressing into the V groove provided on the upper surface of the plunger member 33.

The return of the gate cams to their initial position which places the second gate cam 49 in butt controlling position and cam 32in an inactive position is accomplished by a control arm cam acting upon the second arm 48 of the catch pawl 41 tilting the same to that position depicted in FIG. 1. This motion releases the lower tip of the pawl from the V groove in plunger member 33 permitting the latter to slide outwardly by the expansion of the coil spring 37. With the push pin 38 no longer bearing against the outer end of the plunger cam 50, the gate cam post 53 is caused to move upwardly by the action of coil spring 56. This upward movement of post 53 places the second gate cam 49 in butt controlling position and the camming surface 52 acting on cam surface 51 forces the plunger cam 50 outwardly causing its outer end to bear against the lower portion of the push pin 38,

FIG. 10 illustrates how the butts 23 of the sliders are guided into the welt cam channel by the latter selective movement of the gate cams. It should be understood, however, that the sliders or other instrumentalities are evenly spaced about the whole upper cylinder and that the number of butts 23 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are limited for simplicity of showing.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention bination of knitting instrumentalities having butts, cams defining differentiating pathways within which said butts may be guided selectively, there being relative move ment between said cams and instrumentalities, a guide unit having first and second gate cam members for changing the path of the butts from one pathway to another, first and second slidable plunger members afi'ixed to said first and second gate cams respectively and restrained for simultaneous movement within said guide unit, control cam means for effecting movement of said first plunger member and gate cam attached thereto in a plane disposed at a right angle to the plane of movement of said instrumentalities, and a further cam means cooperating with said first plunger member and gate cam for effecting movement of said second plunger member and gate cam attached thereto in a plane perpendicular to the movement of said first cam and plunger member, a releasable locking means for maintaining said first gate cam in butt controlling position, and a spring means for urging said first and second gate cams to their initial positions upon actuation of said releasable locking means.

2. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said further cam means includes a tubular cam member slidably retained in said guide unit and adapted to act upon said second plunger member when actuated by the selective moving of said first plunger member.

3. In an independent needle knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities having butts, cams defining dilferentiating pathways within which said butts may be guided selectively, there being relative movements between said cams and instrumentalities. a guide unit having first and second gate cam members for changing the path of the butts from one pathway to another, first and second slidable plunger members affixed to said first and second gate cams, respectively, and restrained for simultaneous movement within said guide unit, control cam means for effecting movement of said first plunger member and gate cam attached thereto in a plane disposed at a right angle to the plane of movement of said instrumentalities, and a further cam means cooperating with said first plunger member and gate cam for effecting movement of said second plunger member and gate cam attached thereto in a plane perpendicular to the movement of said first cam and plunger member.

References Cited by the Examiner MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

W. C. REYNOLDS, Examiner. 

3. IN AN INDEPENDENT NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE THE COMBINATION OF KNITTING INSTRUMENTALITIES HAVING BUTTS, CAMS DEFINING DIFFERENTIATING PATHWAYS WITHIN WHICH SAID BUTTS MAY BE GUIDED SELECTIVELY, THERE BEING RELATIVE MOVEMENTS BETWEEN SAID CAMS AND INSTRUMENTALITIES, A GUIDE UNIT HAVING FIRST AND SECOND GATE CAM MEMBERS FOR CHANGING THE PATH OF THE BUTTS FROM ONE PATHWAY TO ANOTHER, FIRST AND SECOND SLIDABLE PLUNGER MEMBERS AFFIXED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND GATE CAMS, RESPECTIVELY, AND RESTRAINED FOR SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT WITHIN SAID GUIDE UNIT, CONTROL CAM MEANS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST PLUNGER MEMBER AND GATE CAM ATTACHED THERETO IN A PLANE DISPOSED AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE PLANE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID INSTRUMENTALITIES, AND A FURTHER CAM MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID FIRST PLUNGER MEMBER AND GATE CAM FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND PLUNGER MEMBER AND GATE CAM ATTACHED THERETO IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST CAM AND PLUNGER MEMBER. 